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Rinard Orchid Greenhouse
Greenhouse Expansion and New Environmental Education Center - Help Us Expand!

Environmental Education has always been at the core of what we do.  From our humble beginnings in 1970, the Wheeler-Thanhauser Orchid Species Collection at Ball State University has become a destination for orchids, conservation, and nature education. Currently celebrating 50 years, the greenhouse and orchid collection offers a variety of programs year-round to groups of all ages.
 

COMING SOON! The Dr. Joe and Alice Rinard Orchid Greenhouse is located in Christy Woods. To enhance the opportunities for nature education at Christy Woods and other BSU Field Station properties, we are increasing the size of the greenhouse and creating a dedicated community learning space. Children from 2-100 years old will benefit from our expanded educational programs. Our enlarged tropical Conservatory will take you deeper into the tropical jungle to see incredible plants and amazing animals. Come experience the largest collegiate Orchid species collection in the country! Our new Center will provide a vibrant space to experience nature in an immersive and hands-on learning environment!
 

In 2019, over 10,000 visitors came to the Ball State University Field Station properties, which includes the Rinard Orchid Greenhouse, Christy Woods, and other outdoor properties. Over 6,000 of those casual visitors enjoyed the orchids and other biological wonders. In addition, over 3,000 visitors took part in programs that meet state and national science standards. We anticipate even greater visitation in the future and are excited about growing our contribution to the young minds of our region, the Ball State University students, and community members from Muncie and East-Central Indiana.
 

We are 90% of the way to our goal for this project. Groundbreaking will take place in April of this year, and need your help to take our project from Good to GREAT! Our timeline is to complete the project by Spring 2022.

See what people are sharing about One Ball State Day 2021!
$3,000
6,323 Gifts Unlocks $3,000 for the Multicultural Center
Upon receiving 6,323 gifts, $3,000 will be unlocked for the new Multicultural Center!
6,323 / 6,323 Gifts
Completed
$3,000
Unlock $3,000 for Student Emergency Aid
Upon receiving 6,323 gifts (beating last year's total number of gifts), $3,000 will be unlocked for Student Emergency Aid!
6,323 / 6,323 Gifts
Completed
Leaderboard
New Challenge - 2 Areas Will Win $1,000
From 7-8pm, two of the non-academic/non-athletic areas with the most donors will each receive $1,000.
Rank Prize Areas Donors
1 $1,000 Ball State Student Media 16
2 $1,000 Spectrum 12
3 Dance Marathon 7
4 Fraternity and Sorority Life 6
5 Multicultural Center 6
Ended
Leaderboard
5 Hours, 5 Areas, $1,000 Each
The 5 areas that raise the most money from 7pm-Midnight will each receive $1,000!
Rank Prize Department Raised
1 $1,000 Athletics $30,956.02
2 $1,000 Theatre & Dance $17,061.74
3 $1,000 Indiana Academy $9,981.41
4 $1,000 College of Architecture & Planning $4,541.68
5 $1,000 Center for Information & Communication Sciences $4,046.26
Ended
Leaderboard
College Leaderboard
The three colleges with the most gifts by midnight April 6 will receive $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000 respectively.
Rank Prize Colleges Gifts
1 $3,000 College of Fine Arts 1,899
2 $2,000 College of Communication, Information, and Media 1,292
3 $1,000 Teachers College 952
4 College of Sciences and Humanities 876
5 Miller College of Business 467
Ended
Leaderboard
Noon Challenge
The department/unit/team that has the most donors by noon receives $5,000 in challenge funds.
Rank Prize Department, Unit, or Team Donors
1 $5,000 Theatre & Dance 377
2 Athletics 329
3 The Ball State Fund 161
4 Student Scholarships 109
5 College of Architecture & Planning 102
Ended
Leaderboard
Most Donors Challenge
The department/unit/team that has the most donors by midnight will receive $5,000 in challenge funds.
Rank Prize Areas Donors
1 $5,000 College of Fine Arts 1,292
2 Theatre & Dance 1,023
3 Athletics 888
4 Teachers College 726
5 College of Communication, Information, and Media 708
Ended
Leaderboard
Top 5 Donor Challenge
The five units with the most donors by midnight will each receive $1,000
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $1,000 Theatre & Dance 1,023
2 $1,000 Athletics 888
3 $1,000 Indiana Academy 261
4 $1,000 School of Music 191
5 $1,000 College of Architecture & Planning 187
Ended
2
Match
Rinard Orchid Greenhouse Match
Gifts to Rinard Orchid Greenhouse will be matched up to a total of $200 to support this campus treasure.
$200 MATCHED
Completed
Leaderboard
Evening Leaderboard
The needs of our students are greater than ever! The five areas with the most donors between 8pm-11pm will each receive $1,000 for their area!
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $1,000 Theatre & Dance 323
2 $1,000 Athletics 169
3 $1,000 Miller Business Honors Program 81
4 $1,000 Indiana Academy 62
5 $1,000 Spectrum 61
Ended
Leaderboard
Dean Maureen McCarthy Challenge
Dean McCarthy will give $500 to the College of Sciences & Humanities department with the most unique number donors.
Rank Prize Department Donors
1 $500 English 80
2 Geography 72
3 History 56
4 Modern Languages & Classics 42
5 Philosophy and Religious Studies 31
Ended
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Questions? See our FAQ.

Or you can contact us at oneballstateday@bsu.edu.

Participating Groups
Take Flight The Ball State Fund Student Scholarships Online Student Support Fund Athletics Alumni Association Student Affairs Honors College College of Architecture & Planning Indiana Public Radio Research Discovery Women's Group Inclusive Excellence College of Communication, Information, and Media College of Fine Arts College of Health College of Sciences and Humanities Miller College of Business Teachers College Community Engagement University Libraries Emens Auditorium Graduate School Parents Fund Rinker Center for International Programs Learning Center

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